Re-inking mechanism for cash registers



July 9, 1957 F. R. WERNER ET AL 2,798,429

RE-INKINGMECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS Original Filed Nov. 10, 1951 3 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS FRANK R. WERNER 81 WALTER G. STERZFER @wkb fiqawzxm THEIR ATTORNEYS y 1957 F. R. WERNER ETAL 2,798,429

RE-INKING MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS Original Filed Nov. 10, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS FRANK R. WERNER a WALTER G. STERZER THEIR ATTORNEYS July 9, 1957 F. R. \NERNER ETAL 2,798,429

RE-INKING MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS Original Filed Nov. 10, 1951 SSheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS FRANK R. WERNER 5 WALTER G. STERZER THEIR ATTORNEYS United States Patent RE-INKING MECHANISM FOR REGISTERS Frank R. Werner and Walter G. Sterzer, Dayton, Ohio, assignors to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Original application November 10, 1951, Serial No. 255,870, now Patent No. 2,722,887, dated November 8, 1955. Divided and this application February 15, 1955, Serial No. 488,288

Claims. (Cl. 101-336) This invention relates to cash registers and accounting machines, and is particularly directed to the inking mech anism of such machines, and is a division of the United States application of F. R. Werner and W. G. Sterzer, Serial Number 255,870, filed November 10, 1951, which issued November 8, 1955, into United States Patent No. 2,722,887.

An object ofthis invention is to supply an improved inking device for the printing means of cash registers, accounting machines and the like.

A more specific object is to supply an inking device for the printing means, which is constructed in one complete unit readily removable from the machine and which includes an endless inking ribbon and means for continuously reinking the ribbon.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l .is a perspective view of the complete machine,

with the door on the left side partly broken away to better show the paper handling equipment, the printing mechanism, and the inking ribbon framework.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation as observed from the left of the machine, showing in particular the detail strip, printing mechanisms, inking ribbon, and ribbon feeding or advancing mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a left side elevation of the removable ribbon feeding and inking unit for the detail strip printing mechamsm.

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the On-and-Off mechanism for the ribbon reinking mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a detail view in left elevation of the ribbon feeding or advancing mechanism.

Description The present invention is directed to improvements in combined cash registers and adding machines of the type disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,443,652, issued June 22, 1948, to Edward J. Carey et al., and United States Patent No. 2,450,165, issued September 28, 1948, to Harold O. Randall et al., to which reference may be had for a complete disclosure of mechanism which is not pertinent to the present invention, and which for that reason will not be illustrated or described herein.

The mechanism of the machine is enclosed in a suitable case or cabinet 20 (Fig. 1) secured to a machine base, not shown, which in turn supports the framework of the machine. The base is secured on the top surface of, a drawer cabinet -21, whichhouses a cash drawer 22, havingjsuitable partitions for coins and currency, the cash drawer being arranged to open automatically upon certain. types of operations of the machine. Located above the cash drawer 22, on the top surface of the cabinet 21, is a coin panel 23, for use in making change.

The machine as illustrated is provided with a keyboard which comprises five rows or denominational orders of amount, keys 24, which through the usual corresponding differential mechanisms (not shown) control the positioning of corresponding indicators 25 and corresponding type wheels, as will be explained presently. The keyboard also includes a row of transaction keys 26,which control the positioning of a corresponding indicator 27 and a corresponding type wheel for indicating and printing characters for use in identifying the type of transactions performed. A key release lever 28 is provided for releasing any depressed amount or transaction keys, and

is likewise used for restoring the motor bar from depressed position to undepressed position, in 'case it is inadvertently retained depressed at the end of machine operation.

The machine is provided with the usual operation control slide 29, which is shiftable to various positions to control the functioning of the machine. The control slide 29 is provided with lock and key for controlling its movement, so that only authorized persons will be permitted to operate this slide, for the purpose of resetting the a total, for example. In some cases the lock for the control slide 29 is provided with two keys, one of whichpermits the reading of the total and the other ofwhich permits the resetting of the total, this latter key being.

generally retained by the proprietor or other authorized person. The machine is provided with the usual starting.-

their differential mechanism, position corresponding shafts j 31 in accordance with the value thereof, said shafts being journaled in themachine framework, including right;

frames (not shown) and a left auxiliary framework, comprising similar plates 32, spaced apart by screw studs 19.; The plates 32 are secured to an upper left frame 33,

secured to a lower left frame 34, in turn secured 10,1116 machine base. Secured onthe lefthand end of each of the shafts 31 is a corresponding crank 35, connected by a link 36 to the corresponding type wheel actuating'segment 37,- rotatably supported on a stud 38, secured in, the frame 34. The segments have, on their forward edges, gear teeth which cooperate with pinions integral with corrresponding type wheelsf39, rotatably supportedon-a stud 40, secured in a frame 34. The outer ends of the studs 38 and 40 are supported by a plate 41,1' mounted on the outer ends of studs 42, secured to the frame 34, said plate 41 being secured on said studs 42" Each of the segments 37 (Fig. 2) has on its upper edge-aligning notches corresponding-to its varby screws.

ious positions and arranged to be engaged by an alining bar 43, rotatably supported in the framework 32 .after said segments 37 have been positioned and prior 'to' op eration of the printing mechanism, to retain saidseg ments and their corresponding type wheels: in set position during the impression stroke of theprinting mechanism. The row of transaction keys 26 (Figs. 1 and 2) and the operation control slide 29 each controls the positioning of a corresponding type wheel similar to the type wheels 39, mounted on the stud 40, for printing identifying characters relative to said keys and said upon the record material. V a

The Web of a detail strip 45 (Fig. 2) is unwound from a supply roll 46 and is guided by studs 47 and 48 between the typewheels 39 and the impression hammer slide,

araaeae 44. From the stud 48 the detail strip 45 is guided over the outer surface of a translucent writing table 49 around a stud 50, secured in the frame 34, and then onto the core of a receiving roll 51, mountedon a stud 57, secured in. said frame 34. Each'of, opposed flat surfaces on the core of the receiving roll .51 has a linear slot cut therein to receive the prongs of a winding key 52, said prongs and said slots providing convenient means for quickly attachingthe web of the detail strip to the receiving roll 51 so that itmay be wound thereon by. turning said key 52, and by automatic means to be described later.

The supply roll 46 (Fig. 2) has a wooden core '3, which freely engages the circumference of the sleeve 54, saidsleeve having'opposed teeth (not shown) over which the core 53is forced, so that said sleeve and said supply roll'will revolve asa unit. The sleeve 54 is rotatably supported on the stud 55, secured in the frame 34, and is retained against lateral displacement on said stud by a spring clip 56, which engages an annular groove in said stud55. The sleeve 54 is provided with an automatic tensioning and take-up device, comprising a helical spring (not shown) which frictionally engages the inner circumference of said sleeve and which also frictionally engages the outer circumference of the stud 55 to retain the web of. the detail strip 45 extending between the supply roll 46 and the receiving roll 51 yieldingly taut at all times.

The inwardly disposed end of the core of the receiving roll 51 is engageable with a ratchet (not shown), and means is provided for advancing or rotating the ratchet a variable increment each machine operation to rotate the-receiving roll 51 to line-space the detail strip 45 with respectto the type wheels 39 and the printing hammer 44. Also, a compensating mechanism is provided for maintaining the line-spacing of the web of the detail strip uniform, regardless of the diameter of the receiving roll 51. These constructions are fully disclosed in the said United States application, Serial No. 255,870.

Also fully disclosed in the above cited United States application is the construction of mechanism for operating the imp'ression hammer 44 to cause said hammer to carry theweb of the detail strip 45 and an inking ribbon 113- into contact withthe type wheels 39 to imprint the values, of the effective amount keys and other data on said detail strip in adding operations, and to print the values contained in the totalizers and other data on said detail strip-in reading and resetting operations.

The inkingribbon 113 (Figs. 2; 3 and 4) is guided between. the web of the detail strip 45 and the type wheels 39 and coacts with the hammer 44, as previously explained, to make imprints upon said detail strip.

The inking. ribbon 113 isconstructed of an endless belt of inking fabric, supported in an inking ribbon frame work 11 4 which, with its components, forms a complete type wheel inking unit, which may be readily and easily removed from the machine in its entirety, for replacement of the ribbon, or for'making minor adjustments or repairs to the ribbon feeding and inking mechanism, and to give better access to the other portions of the printing mechanism in case it is necessary or desirable to make adjustments or repairs in connection therewith.

The removable inking ribbon framework comprises a main plate 114, two long guide bushings 115 secured thereto, and a series of guide studs 117 also secured thereto, said bushings engageable with corresponding pilot studs 116 (Fig. 2) secured to the frame 34, and said studs 117 engageable with corresponding short bushings 118, secured to the frames 33 and 34, for removably mounting the inking ribbon framework on the machine. In mounting the inking ribbon framework on the machine, the long guide bushings 115 are first engaged with the pilot studs 116, and as said framework is moved inwardly to home position, the studs 117 engage the corresponding short bushings 118 to properly locate and maintain said inking ribbon mechanism in position on the machine framework. When the inking ribbon framework is properly mounted on the machine, a manually operable spring-pushed latch 119 (Figs. 2 and 3) mounted on the outer surface of the plate 114, engages an annular groove in a stud'120, secured in the plate 41, and extending through a clearance hole in said plate 114 to retain said framework in its normal or home position. In removing the ribbon framework, all that is required is that the latch 119 be disengaged from the stud 12%, after which the entire framework may be pulled outwardly until it is clear of the machine.

By referring to Fig.1 it will be seen that the ribbon framework 114 is accessible through a large closure 121 on the left hand end of the cabinet 20. Likewise, the detail strip feeding and printing mechanisms are also accessible through the closure 121. The inking ribbon 113 (Figs. 3 and 4) is guided between flanges formed by undercut portions of the bushings and the studs 117. The ribbon 113 is further guided between the periphery of a combined inking and feeding roller 122, rotatably supported on a stud 123, secured in the plate 114, and the periphery of a pressure roller 124, rotatably supported on a stud 125, which freely engages open slots in the upper ends of right and left arms of a yoke 126, pivoted on one of the studs 117. A torsion spring 127 (Fig. 3) tensioned between the hail of the yoke 126 and the stud in the ribbon plate 114, urges said yoke and the roller 124 counterclockwise to normally maintain said roller in yielding contact with the inking and feeding roller 122. A shield 123, secured to the plate 114, guides the ribbon 113 around the type wheels 39 and shields the front of said type wheels from contact with said inking ribbon, to insure that no smudging will occur.

A tension or take-up device is provided for maintaining the endless inking ribbon 113 taut at all times, so

that it will feed properly under all conditions, and to further insure proper inking of said ribbon by the autornatic reinking device, which will be explained presently.

The ribbon take-up device (Fig. 3) comprises a roller 130, having axially alined trunnions formed on either end thereof, which freely engage open slots in the right and left arms of a yoke 131, pivotally supported on one of the studs 117. A spring 132, tensioned between an upward hook-shaped extension of the left arm of the yoke 131 and a stud in the plate 114, urges said yoke and the roller clockwise to cause said roller to yieldiugly engage the inking ribbon 113 to maintain said ribbon taut, so that it will be properly inked and fed by the roller 122.

Mechanism is provided for revolving the inking and feeding roller 122 to advance the inking ribbon a step each machine operation so as to present different portions thereof to the type wheels 39 and the printing hammer 44 each machine operation, and to insure that said ribbon is properly inked.

The roller 122 (Figs. 3 and 4) has diametrically opposed clutch cuts or notches 133, engageable with corresponding diametrically opposed clutch tenons 134, formed on a disk 135, integral with a ribbon feeding ratchet 136, free on a stud 137 secured in the frame 34. The stud 137 is in axial alinemen t with the stud 123, which supports the roll 122 when the ink ribbon unit is assembled on the machine, at which time said clutch cuts 133 are engaged with said tenons 134. It will be noted that the outer edge of the roller 122 is knurled as at 138 (Figs. 3 and 4) so that said roll may be manually revolved to aline the clutch cuts 133 with the tenons 134 in case these parts are out of register when the ink ribbon unit is being assembled on the machine.

The teeth of the ratchet 136 (Fig. 2) cooperate with a tooth on a ratchet retaining pawl 139, pivotally supported on the outside diameter of one of the bushings 118. The teeth of the ratchet 136 also cooperate with the tooth of a feed pawl 140 (Figs. 2 and 6) pivoted on a stud 141, carried by a lever 142, rotatably supported on a rod- 143, inturn supported by the plates of the framework32. A spring 144, tensioned between the retaining pawl 139 and the feed pawl 140 retains the teeth of said pawls in yielding engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 136. A downward extension of the lever 142 carries a stud 145, engaged by an open slot in the upper end of a lever 146, pivotally supported by a stud 147, secured in the frame 34. A spring 148 urges 'the lever 146 clockwise tonormally maintain a roller 149, carried thereby, in yielding engagement with the periphery of a plate cam 150, secured on the shaft 71, and performing one counter-clockwise revolution each machine operation, in unison with said shaft.

Rotation of the cam 150 rocks the levers 146 and 142 first counter-clockwise and clockwise, respectively, against the action of the spring 148. Clockwise movement of the lever 142 shifts the feed pawl 140 downwardly against the action of the spring 144 to rotate the ratchet 136 and the feeding and inking roller 122 one step in a counterclockwise direction to feed the inking ribbon 113. Continued rotation of the cam 150 moves the high point of its periphery beyond the roller 149, thus permitting the spring 148 to return the levers 146 and 142 clockwise and counter-clockwise, respectively, to restore the feed pawl 140 upwardly in preparation for its next downward or feeding movement. While being restored, the feed pawl 140 (Fig. 2) ratchets idly over the teeth of the ratchet 136, the retaining pawl 139 functioning at this time to prevent retrograde movement of said ratchet and the roller 122. During counter-clockwise feeding movement of the ratchet 136, the retaining pawl 139 ratchets idly over the teeth of said ratchet.

A reinking device is provided for transferring ink from i a reservoir to the roller 122, the outer surface ofwhich is composed of absorbent material, such as felt, said roller in turntransferring the ink to the inking ribbon 113.

The reinking mechanism comprises a transfer roller 151 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) rotatably mounted on a stud 152, supported by the right. and left arms of a yoke 153, roltatably mounted on one of the studs 117. A spring 154, tensioned between the bail of the yoke 153 and a stud 172 in the plate .114, urges said yoke and the roller 151 counter-clockwise to normally maintain said roller in yielding contact with the periphery of the feeding and inking roller 122. It will be noted by referring to Fig. 4 that the reinking roller 151 hastwo undercut portions which form a narrow central inking rim 156 for transferring the ink from the reservoir to the feed roller 122, and somewhat Wider rims on the outer ends thereof to provide suficient frictional contact with said roller 122 to-insure rotation of said roller 151. The inking rim 156 (Figs. 3 and 4) is yieldingly engaged by a felt inking wick 155, which protrudes from an opening in the top portion of anink reservoir 157 made of suitable plastic material and secured to the inner surface of the plate 114 by. three screws, as shownin Fig. 3.

Rotation of the roller 122 simultaneously rotates the reinking roller 151 to cause the rim 156 to transfer ink from the wick 155 to said roller 122, to provide means for continuously reinking the ribbon 113 so that all imprints made upon the Web of the detail strip 45 will be clear and distinct, thus increasing many-fold the life of usefulness of each inking ribbon 113. The top portion of the ink reservoir 157'has formed thereon a neck which extends through a clearance hole in the plate 114, said neck having a threaded opening which is normally closed by a screw cap T158. in replenishing the ink supply of the reservoir 157, the screw cap 158 is removed, and a collapsible metal or plastic tube containing a supply of ink is threaded into the opening, after which the tube is collapsed to transfer the contents therefrom into the reservoir 157.

On and off means are provided for moving the reinking roller 151 out of contact with the periphery of the feeding and inking roller 122 in case it is necessary for any reason to stop the transfer of ink from the wick to said roller 122.

The on and ofl mechanism comprises a manually operable lever 159, pivotally supported on the stud 172 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5), said lever having in a downward extension thereof a stud 160, which coacts with a notch 161 in the left arm of the yoke 153. A bent-over fingerpiece 162, which extends over a rounded undercut portion of the upper edge of the plate 114, is provided for conveniently moving the lever 159 to either of its positions.

When the lever 159 is in its on position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the reinking roller 151 is free to engage the roller 122, and consequently at this time ink is transferred from the wick 155 to said roller 122. Moving the lever 159 from its on position to its off position causes the stud 160, in cooperation with the camming notch 161 to rock the yoke 153 clockwise (Figs. 3 and 5) to move the central rim 156 and the enlarged end rims of the roller 151 out of contact with the periphery of the roller 122, to prevent the transfer of ink from the wick 155 to said roller 122. Due to the action of the spring 154, the notch 161 yieldingly engages the stud 160, and consequently, as long as the on and off lever 159 is in off position the yoke 153 and the roller 151 will be retained in their ineffective or non-reinking position to prevent transfer of the ink from the wick 155 to the feeding and inking roller 122.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects pri- -marily stated, it is to be understood that it is not inrecords on record material, of an inking ribbon unit forv the type carriers, said unit being removably mounted on the. machine and comprising in combination :a ribbon support plate; a plurality of guide members for the ribbon, said members mounted on the plate; a combinedinking and feeding roller mounted on the plate, said roller having an outer portion, which is composed substantially of absorbent material for holding ink and transferring it to the ribbon; a pressure roller mounted on the plate and operating to maintain the ribbon in yielding engagement with the feedingand inking roller so that said ribbon will be properly fed and inked thereby; a tension roller mounted on the plate and coacting. with the ribbon to keep it taut; a yoke rotatably mounted on the plate; a transfer roller rotatably supported by the yoke and normally maintained in yielding contact with the periphery of the inking and feeding roller; an ink reservoir mounted on the plate and having an opening accessible from the outside of said plate for the convenient replenishing of the ink supply; a wick extending out of the reservoir and yieldably engaging the transfer roller to cause said roller to transfer the ink from the reservoir to the inking and feeding roller; a manipulative lever mounted on the plate; a projection on the lever; a cam notch in the yoke engageable by the projection when the lever is manipulated to move and retain'the transfer roller out of contact with the periphery of the inking and feeding roller to stop the transfer of ink from the reservoir to said inking and feeding roller; and driving means for the inking: and feeding roller located in the machine proper and engageable by said inking and feeding roller when the ribbon unit is properly mounted on the machine and operable to revolve said inking and feeding roller to feed and ink the ribbon.

2. In a machine of the class described, constructed and arranged to print records on record material, said machine havinga plurality of type carriers, an inkingribbon for inking the type carriers, and an impression hammet for impressingtlierecord material and the ribbon against the type carriers, the combination of a ribbon support plate; a plurality of supporting and guide members for the inking ribbon, said members mounted on the plate; means on the'machine proper coacting with the ribbon supporting and guiding members to removably attach the ribbon support plate to said machine; a combined inking and feeding roller mounted on the plate, said roller having its outer surface composed substantially of ab sorbent material for holding a supply of ink and transferring it to the ribbon; a pressure roller mounted on the plate and coacting with the inking and feeding roller to yieldably maintain the ribbon in contact therewith; a tension roller mounted on the plate and coacting with the ribbon to keep it taut; a yoke rotatably mounted on the plate; a transfer roller rotatably supported by the yoke and normally maintained in yielding contact with the periphery of the inking and feeding roller; an ink reservoir mounted on the plate, said reservoir having an opening accessible from the exterior of the plate for conveniently replenishing the ink supply; a wick protruding from the reservoir and yieldably engaging the transfer roller to cause said roller to transfer the ink from the reservoir to the inking and feeding roller; means comprising a manually operable lever, a projection on the lever, and a cam notch in the yoke engageable by the projection when the 'lever is manipulated to move and retain the transfer roller out of contact with the periphery of the inking and feeding roller to terminate the transfer of ink from the reservoir to said inking and feeding roller; and driving means for the inking and feeding roller located in the machine proper, and engageable by said inking and feeding roller when the support plate is I properly attached to the machine.

3. In a machine of the class described, constructed and arranged to print records on record material, said machine having a plurality of type carriers, an inking ribbon for inking the type carriers, and an impression hammer for impressing the record material and the ribbon against the type carriers, the combination of a ribbon support plate; a plurality of supporting and guide members for the inking ribbon, said members mounted on the plate; means on the machine proper coacting with the ribbon supporting and guide members to removably attach the ribbon support plate to said machine; a combined inking and feeding roller mounted on the plate, the outer surface of said roller being adapted to hold a supply of ink and to transfer it to the ribbon; a pressure roller. mounted on the plate and coacting with the inking and feeding roller to yieldably maintain the ribbon in contact therewith; means for tensioning the ribbon to keep it taut; a transfer roller normally maintained in yielding contact with the periphery of the inking and feeding roller; means on the plate for mounting the transfer roller; an ink reservoir mounted on the plate, said reservoir having an opening accessible from the exterior of the plate for conveniently replenishing the ink supply; a wick protruding from the reservoir and yieldingly engaging the transfer roller to cause said roller to transfer the ink from the reservoir to the inking and feeding roller; means to move and retain the transfer roller out of contact with the periphery of the inking and feeding roller to terminate the transfer of ink. from the reservoir to said inking and feeding rollers; and drivingmeans for the inking and feedingroller,

located in the machine proper, and engageable by said inking and feeding roller when the support plate is properly attached to the machine.

4. In a machine of the class described, constructed and arranged to print records on record material, said ma: chine having a plurality of type carriers, an inking ribbon for inking the type carriers, and an impression hammer for impressing the record material and the ribbon against the type carriers, the combination of a ribbon support plate; a plurality of supportingand guide members for the inking ribbon, said members mounted on the plate; means on the machine proper coacting with the ribbon supporting and guide members to removably attach the ribbon support plate to said machine; a combined inking and feeding roller mounted on the plate, the outer surface of said roller being absorbent, so as to hold a supply of ink and to transfer it to the ribbon; a pressure roller mounted on the plate and coacting with the inking and feeding roller to yieldably maintain the ribbon in contact therewith; tensioning means mounted on the plate and coacting with the ribbon to keep it taut; a transfer roller mounted on the plate and normally maintained in yielding contact with the periphery of the inking and feeding roller; an ink reservoir mounted on the plate, said reservoir having an opening accessible from the exterior of the plate for conveniently replenishing the ink supply; a wick protruding from the reservoir and yieldably engaging the transfer roller to cause said roller to transfer the ink from the reservoir to the inking and feeding roller; and driving means for the inking and feeding roller located in the machine proper, and engageable by said inking and feeding roller when the support plate is properly attached to the machine.

5. In a removable inking ribbon unit for a machine of the character described, said unit comprising an inking ribbon, an inking ribbon support plate, the combination and ribbon guide means mounted on the support plate, of a power-driven combined inking and feeding roller mounted on the plate, the outer surface of said roller being absorbent, so as to hold a supply of ink and to transfer it to the ribbon; a pressure roller mounted on the plate and coacting with the inking and feeding roller to yieldably maintain the ribbon in contact therewith; means mounted on the plate to tension the ribbon to keep it taut; a yoke rotatably mounted on the plate; a transfer roller rotatably supported by the yoke and normally maintained in yielding contact with the periphery of the inking and feeding roller; an ink reservoir mounted on the plate; wick means projecting from the reservoir and yieldably engaging the transfer roller to cause said roller to transfer the ink from the reservoir to the inking and feeding roller; a manually operable 'lever mounted on the plate; and means on the yoke and the lever constructed and arranged to coact when the lever is manipulated to move and retain the transfer roller out of contact with the periphery of the inking and feeding roller to terminate the transfer of ink from the reservoir to said inking and feeding roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,365,737 Simpson Jan. 18, 1921 1,967,709, Gabrielson July 24, 1934 2,531,692 Kreider Nov. 28, 1950 

